The injury suffered by Marc-Andre Ter Stegen during the match against Villarreal is expected to keep him out for a significant period of time. Although he is hopeful of returning to the pitch before the current season ends, the Catalans have still decided to bring in another experienced goalkeeper to replace him in the squad, the retired Pole Wojciech Szczesny.
The former Juventus goalkeeper has been closely linked with Barcelona in the last few days, despite the fact that he had hung up his boots after playing in the UEFA EURO 2024.
With Szczesny, Barcelona are looking to incorporate a more experienced option in a position that is perhaps the most sensitive, so they do not have to rely on youngsters like Diego Kochen and Andre Astralaga if Inaki Pena also gets injured or suspended at some point during the ongoing season.
There were several goalkeepers on Barcelona’s radar, but one of the factors that played in Szczesny’s favor was his close friendship with Robert Lewandowski.
According to a report from SPORT, the Polish striker has been key in the goalkeeper’s signing, and the report has also revealed the contents of an alleged phone call between the two players in which they discussed Szczesny’s potential move to Barcelona.
The report has quoted the journalist Jofre Mateu, who reported: “What I understand is that there was a call between Lewandowski and Szczesny in which the goalkeeper told him that he’s fine where he is and that he would only go if it’s to be a starter. He told him not to make him go to Barça only to end up on the bench.”
If this conversation actually took place, it is clear that Szczesny would be coming to Barcelona only to be a starter. Thus, if this move actually materializes, it would be a difficult situation for Inaki Pena, in whom Deco has already shown full confidence.